Tay (Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró)
@biotay.bsky.social
Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró, Goffin Lab, Vienna, Austria
PhD^2 and Ninja Biologist.
Animal Behavior and Comparative Cognition.
Human perch for cockatoos.
Also here: twitter.com/BioTay
More about me here: https://osunamascaro.weebly.com/
PhD^2 and Ninja Biologist.
Animal Behavior and Comparative Cognition.
Human perch for cockatoos.
Also here: twitter.com/BioTay
More about me here: https://osunamascaro.weebly.com/
1/14 Evidence of visual awareness in insects
Some have argued that insects behave like small robots without consciousness. In this article (mostly focusing on bees), evidence is gathered to show that they have subjective experience.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Some have argued that insects behave like small robots without consciousness. In this article (mostly focusing on bees), evidence is gathered to show that they have subjective experience.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
November 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
1/14 Evidence of visual awareness in insects
Some have argued that insects behave like small robots without consciousness. In this article (mostly focusing on bees), evidence is gathered to show that they have subjective experience.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Some have argued that insects behave like small robots without consciousness. In this article (mostly focusing on bees), evidence is gathered to show that they have subjective experience.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
1/2 The Batman effect
A pregnant researcher (fake pregnancy) gets on the subway. Another researcher, dressed either normally or as Batman, also boards. Passengers offered their seats more often when Batman was present (67.21% versus 37.66%; n 138)
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s44...
A pregnant researcher (fake pregnancy) gets on the subway. Another researcher, dressed either normally or as Batman, also boards. Passengers offered their seats more often when Batman was present (67.21% versus 37.66%; n 138)
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s44...
November 22, 2025 at 7:36 AM
1/2 The Batman effect
A pregnant researcher (fake pregnancy) gets on the subway. Another researcher, dressed either normally or as Batman, also boards. Passengers offered their seats more often when Batman was present (67.21% versus 37.66%; n 138)
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s44...
A pregnant researcher (fake pregnancy) gets on the subway. Another researcher, dressed either normally or as Batman, also boards. Passengers offered their seats more often when Batman was present (67.21% versus 37.66%; n 138)
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s44...
1/2 How much does thinking cost?
The brain consumes a large part of our energy (20% at rest), but it is actually very little (about 17 watts); it is extremely efficient. The most surprising thing is that cognitive effort only increases it by 5%.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
The brain consumes a large part of our energy (20% at rest), but it is actually very little (about 17 watts); it is extremely efficient. The most surprising thing is that cognitive effort only increases it by 5%.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
November 21, 2025 at 8:06 PM
1/2 How much does thinking cost?
The brain consumes a large part of our energy (20% at rest), but it is actually very little (about 17 watts); it is extremely efficient. The most surprising thing is that cognitive effort only increases it by 5%.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
The brain consumes a large part of our energy (20% at rest), but it is actually very little (about 17 watts); it is extremely efficient. The most surprising thing is that cognitive effort only increases it by 5%.
(paper) www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Reposted by Tay (Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró)
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
1/2 Jumping spiders recognize each other individually
The most surprising thing about this is that they do so using mental representations that remain in their long-term memory, which is a result of their general cognitive abilities (!!!)
(paper) elifesciences.org/articles/97146
The most surprising thing about this is that they do so using mental representations that remain in their long-term memory, which is a result of their general cognitive abilities (!!!)
(paper) elifesciences.org/articles/97146
November 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM
1/2 Jumping spiders recognize each other individually
The most surprising thing about this is that they do so using mental representations that remain in their long-term memory, which is a result of their general cognitive abilities (!!!)
(paper) elifesciences.org/articles/97146
The most surprising thing about this is that they do so using mental representations that remain in their long-term memory, which is a result of their general cognitive abilities (!!!)
(paper) elifesciences.org/articles/97146
Reposted by Tay (Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró)
A reminder to anyone interested in #brains #birds or behaviour, our new book is available for FREE as an ebook in addition to print copies.
#neuroethology #neuroskyence #ornithology 🧪🧠🪶
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
#neuroethology #neuroskyence #ornithology 🧪🧠🪶
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Bird Brains and Behavior: A Synthesis
From two avian neurobiologists, a captivating deep dive into the mechanisms that control avian behavior.The last few decades have produced extensive resear
direct.mit.edu
November 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
A reminder to anyone interested in #brains #birds or behaviour, our new book is available for FREE as an ebook in addition to print copies.
#neuroethology #neuroskyence #ornithology 🧪🧠🪶
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
#neuroethology #neuroskyence #ornithology 🧪🧠🪶
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
1/5 Parasitic queen ants
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
November 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM
1/5 Parasitic queen ants
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
1/2 Raccoons are domesticating themselves
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
November 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
1/2 Raccoons are domesticating themselves
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
1/6 Self-awareness could be VERY ancient
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
1/6 Self-awareness could be VERY ancient
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
What does it feel like to be a remora?
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
November 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
What does it feel like to be a remora?
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
Not as Victorian as previously thought
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Not as Victorian as previously thought
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
1/2 Epigenetics of memory
This study shows that certain epigenetic changes can reinforce or weaken very specific memories, even memories that are already fully established in the memory.
This has been demonstrated in mice.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This study shows that certain epigenetic changes can reinforce or weaken very specific memories, even memories that are already fully established in the memory.
This has been demonstrated in mice.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 15, 2025 at 11:18 AM
1/2 Epigenetics of memory
This study shows that certain epigenetic changes can reinforce or weaken very specific memories, even memories that are already fully established in the memory.
This has been demonstrated in mice.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This study shows that certain epigenetic changes can reinforce or weaken very specific memories, even memories that are already fully established in the memory.
This has been demonstrated in mice.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This is a great proposal for studying tool use.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and when I came across it, I was hoping I would dislike it!
However, I believe that the "four categories of tool use" approach is the right way to study tool use.
Read it if you're interested in the topic
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and when I came across it, I was hoping I would dislike it!
However, I believe that the "four categories of tool use" approach is the right way to study tool use.
Read it if you're interested in the topic
Defining non-human #ToolUse remains contested, complicating scientific generalization & inspiring the concept of “tooling.” Our new 📄 @philscijournal.bsky.social proposes a synthetic framework to advance research on 🔧 use & tooling 👇 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #philsci #cogsci #evosky #HPbio
November 15, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This is a great proposal for studying tool use.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and when I came across it, I was hoping I would dislike it!
However, I believe that the "four categories of tool use" approach is the right way to study tool use.
Read it if you're interested in the topic
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and when I came across it, I was hoping I would dislike it!
However, I believe that the "four categories of tool use" approach is the right way to study tool use.
Read it if you're interested in the topic
The intelligence of slime mold is that of its materials
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The intelligence of slime mold is that of its materials
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
Reposted by Tay (Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró)
Fully funded #PhDposition in Comparative Cultural Psychology @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social.
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
Positions available - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
www.eva.mpg.de
November 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Fully funded #PhDposition in Comparative Cultural Psychology @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social.
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
Ayer comenté brevemente el reciente estudio sobre cómo los chimpancés revisan sus creencias en la sección Catacrocker de Antonio Martínez Ron @aberron.bsky.social en Mañana Más, de RNE @mananamasrne.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/live/snJNVEU...
www.youtube.com/live/snJNVEU...
McEnroe nos adentra en 'La vida libre' - Mañana más, con Ángel Carmona - 3x44
Sigue en directo de lunes a jueves a las 8 h el programa 'Mañana más' en la app RNE Audio, en https://www.rtve.es/rneaudio, aquí en YouTube y en rtve.es/play...
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Ayer comenté brevemente el reciente estudio sobre cómo los chimpancés revisan sus creencias en la sección Catacrocker de Antonio Martínez Ron @aberron.bsky.social en Mañana Más, de RNE @mananamasrne.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/live/snJNVEU...
www.youtube.com/live/snJNVEU...
1/7 Vocal mimicry, robots, and music
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
1/7 Vocal mimicry, robots, and music
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
1/2 Lethal violence in bonobos
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
1/2 Lethal violence in bonobos
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
1/3 The unconscious and anomalous experiences
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
November 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
1/3 The unconscious and anomalous experiences
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
1/2 Jacob
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
1/2 Jacob
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
1/2 Menopause in gorillas
28% of the mountain gorillas studied here were going through behavioral menopause (not endocrine menopause, similar to elephants). The hypothesis that seems to explain this best is that of the mother, not the grandmother.
(paper) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
28% of the mountain gorillas studied here were going through behavioral menopause (not endocrine menopause, similar to elephants). The hypothesis that seems to explain this best is that of the mother, not the grandmother.
(paper) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
1/2 Menopause in gorillas
28% of the mountain gorillas studied here were going through behavioral menopause (not endocrine menopause, similar to elephants). The hypothesis that seems to explain this best is that of the mother, not the grandmother.
(paper) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
28% of the mountain gorillas studied here were going through behavioral menopause (not endocrine menopause, similar to elephants). The hypothesis that seems to explain this best is that of the mother, not the grandmother.
(paper) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Dehydration and cognitive performance
Losing just 2% of our body weight through dehydration (e.g., 1.4 kg for someone weighing 70 kg) results in cognitive performance similar to having slept a couple of hours less than normal (0.28 SD).
(paper; 2018) journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fu...
Losing just 2% of our body weight through dehydration (e.g., 1.4 kg for someone weighing 70 kg) results in cognitive performance similar to having slept a couple of hours less than normal (0.28 SD).
(paper; 2018) journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fu...
November 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Dehydration and cognitive performance
Losing just 2% of our body weight through dehydration (e.g., 1.4 kg for someone weighing 70 kg) results in cognitive performance similar to having slept a couple of hours less than normal (0.28 SD).
(paper; 2018) journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fu...
Losing just 2% of our body weight through dehydration (e.g., 1.4 kg for someone weighing 70 kg) results in cognitive performance similar to having slept a couple of hours less than normal (0.28 SD).
(paper; 2018) journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fu...
1/3 Cooperative hunting in ravens
Brown-necked ravens (C. ruficollis) work together to prevent lizards (U. aegyptia) from entering and blocking their burrow by inflating their bodies using their pointed tails to obstruct the entrance.
(paper; 2010) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Brown-necked ravens (C. ruficollis) work together to prevent lizards (U. aegyptia) from entering and blocking their burrow by inflating their bodies using their pointed tails to obstruct the entrance.
(paper; 2010) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
1/3 Cooperative hunting in ravens
Brown-necked ravens (C. ruficollis) work together to prevent lizards (U. aegyptia) from entering and blocking their burrow by inflating their bodies using their pointed tails to obstruct the entrance.
(paper; 2010) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Brown-necked ravens (C. ruficollis) work together to prevent lizards (U. aegyptia) from entering and blocking their burrow by inflating their bodies using their pointed tails to obstruct the entrance.
(paper; 2010) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
They are all brain
Sea urchins were once believed to have no head, but we now know that their entire body surface functions as a brain. This distributed system has the potential for complex behavior.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
Sea urchins were once believed to have no head, but we now know that their entire body surface functions as a brain. This distributed system has the potential for complex behavior.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
November 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
They are all brain
Sea urchins were once believed to have no head, but we now know that their entire body surface functions as a brain. This distributed system has the potential for complex behavior.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
Sea urchins were once believed to have no head, but we now know that their entire body surface functions as a brain. This distributed system has the potential for complex behavior.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
This is an interesting article that categorizes 350 theories of consciousness.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
And it works perfectly as an introduction to exploring the Closer to Truth website, where the topics are compiled and explained one by one.
(blog) loc.closertotruth.com/map
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
And it works perfectly as an introduction to exploring the Closer to Truth website, where the topics are compiled and explained one by one.
(blog) loc.closertotruth.com/map
November 5, 2025 at 7:31 AM
This is an interesting article that categorizes 350 theories of consciousness.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
And it works perfectly as an introduction to exploring the Closer to Truth website, where the topics are compiled and explained one by one.
(blog) loc.closertotruth.com/map
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
And it works perfectly as an introduction to exploring the Closer to Truth website, where the topics are compiled and explained one by one.
(blog) loc.closertotruth.com/map